10th March, 2014
MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano
Leaders and elders of northern Nigeria raged on Monday in Kano northwest Nigeria with a total resolve that the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan-led government has not been fair to the region.
It was at a two-day Conference of Leaders and Elders of Northern Nigeria designed to forge a new cause for the region which they say is bedevilled by insecurity and poverty resulting from alleged systematic neglect by the Federal Government.
Wantaregh Paul Unongo pointedly accused the presidency of deliberate attempt to disintegrate the North so as to pave way for President Jonathan’s 2015 second-bid, adding that, “whether Christians or Muslims, the North remain one and what we want is a president from the North in 2015.”
Unongo also took a swipe at the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, which earlier disowned the conference and wondered why the North can not come out clear to speak with one voice.
Many who spoke at the event condemned what they described as inability of the Federal Government to tackle security challenges in the North-East despite huge military presence in the area, wondering whether it was a calculated attempt to undermine the North’s unity and economic growth.
Alhaji Maitama Sule, the Dan Masanin Kano, who spear-headed the conference said the idea was to unite the North, so as to remove religious and tribal differences to enable the North speak with one voice.
He emphasized that the North is united condemned the use of religion to divide the North, and called on the Federal Government to deploy its might to halt the wanton killings in the North East, adding that both religions preach love, peace and not violence.
Speaking on behalf of Borno Elders, Alhaji Zanna Hassan Boguma expressed surprise over the continued silence of the Federal Government, as well as non-implementation of the reports on the insurgency ravaging some parts of the North, particularly Borno State.
“The current security challenges that we are battling in the North-East of Nigeria and articularly, Borno state calls for a serious concern, not just from the citizens of the affected states, but of Nigeria in general.
“A situation where an entire community is wiped out, places of worship destroyed without recourse to even women, children and the elderly is not just condemnable, but barbaric and cannot in anyway be linked to a particular religion. Sometimes, one will ask ‘are these people really human?
“As for those of us that are from Borno, we have been seeing hell; our people are constantly decimated, especially in the last few weeks. Our towns and villages razed, properties destroyed, schools and places of worship burnt, even innocent travelers were not spared. This is the catastrophe that should be condemned by all. In fact, a declaration of a mourning period throughout the North is even necessary,” Zanna stated.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed who presented the keynote address titled: ‘’The North: A Past in the Future,’’ lamented that the people of the North are today without leaders, who will take a stand on the National conference and convince the nation to respect that position.
Dr Ahmed regretted that the North has leaders, who will move against the crippling assaults on lives and property of its poor and defenceless citizens because power is in the hands of people, who as pear too are far removed from Northern interests.